Emotional and behavioural status and associated factors of Sinhala language conversant children aged 11- 16 years, who are resident in Children’s Homes in the Gampaha Probationary Division

Abstract

Background: Emotional and behavioral conditions are common among inmates living in Children’s Homes due to lack the love, affection and care compared to their counterparts living with parents, making them more vulnerable for above disorders. Objective: To describe the emotional and behavioral status and the associated factors among inmates aged 11-16 years of Children’s Homes in the Gampaha Probationary Division. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted. Sample size calculated was 294. Inclusion criteria was being conversant in Sinhala language. All eligible inmates of 14 Children’s Homes in Gampaha Probationary Division were recruited. Study instruments comprised, self-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), interviewer administered questionnaire and a checklist to extract relevant data from the records. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was carried out to identify associated factors for emotional and behavioural status. A probability <0.05 was selected as the significant level. The results were expressed as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Response rate was 100% (n=279). The prevalence of abnormal emotional and behavioral status was 26.2% (95% CI: 21.1-31.7). Conduct problems were the highest (28.7%; 95% CI: 23.4-34.4) and pro-social problems were the lowest (3.6%; 95% CI: 1.7-6.5). Female sex (OR=2.4; 95% CI: 1.2-4.8, p=0.014), living in Children’s Homes for more than six years (OR=3.0; 95% CI: 1.5–6.0, p=0.003), having less than 10 friends (OR=2.2; 95% CI: 1.2-4.2, p=0.015) and keeping problems to themselves (OR=10.1; 95% CI: 3.9–26.2, p<0.001) were significantly associated with having abnormal emotional and behvioural status. Conclusions and Recommendations: Observed prevalence is higher than figures from general population which was 18.9%. Except “sex”, all other associated factors were modifiable. Recommend early screening and establishing counseling services. Future research should focus on assessing all three versions of SDQ and qualitative research to identify root causes of the related problems.

Keywords

• emotional and behavioural status, strengths and difficulties questionnaire, inmates of children’s homes